Protecting your business involves alarm systems, ID badges, locks, and access controls. But not all threats are physical. As technology becomes more sophisticated, so do the cybercriminals who want to damage your systems and steal your data.
That’s why your business needs to protect itself with thorough cybersecurity measures. Ideally, this would start with an IT department or cybersecurity specialist. However, you can’t always have a full-time expert on hand. Even if you do, you’ll need to take certain steps on your own or in conjunction with your IT services to keep your company and data safe.
Here are some of the most essential.
Strong passwords
It may seem like a small step, but strong passwords are essential for keeping your business safe. Ensure that your employees aren’t using codes that are easy to guess, such as names of loved ones and pets. The best passwords include upper- and lowercase letters, names, and special characters.
Work with your IT outsourcing services or department to establish rules about the length and characters employees must include. It’s also important to ask employees to change their passwords regularly. You may, for example, insist that they change them every two or three months.
A two-factor authentication system can also be a helpful security system. For example, when an employee logs into a company system on a new device, they might be texted a code and be asked to enter it along with their normal login information. This adds another layer of protection.
Data storage
Uploading important files and documents to a cloud storage system prevents your business and employees from losing sensitive data, such as employee and consumer records. But cloud storage is about more than just saving your files. With data breaches becoming all the more common and expensive to repair, this is a useful tool in protecting yourself from hackers and other cybercriminals. Cloud servers’ security is usually much stronger than your own servers’ security.
VPNs
A virtual private network (VPN) creates a private connection within a public network, allowing people to securely deliver information. It does so by masking their IP addresses and preventing others from seeing what they’re doing and sending online. In other words, it makes it nearly impossible for outsiders to trace the online activities of the VPN’s users.
It’s important to install VPNs on all devices employees may use to access company information, including their phones and tablets.
Firewalls
Using an established set of rules, a firewall assesses incoming and outgoing network traffic, preventing connections that could harm you by establishing barriers or walls. Work with your IT provider to create firewalls for employee devices, including ones they use outside of the office, as with VPNs. You can also use free firewall software.
Anti-malware
An employee opens an email asking them to click on a link, and suddenly, their device is infected with malware. They’ve become the victim of a phishing attack, and now your entire business is at risk. But installing anti-malware software can help protect you.
It can detect and analyze malware based on patterns and other characteristics and, should it deem it harmful, prevent it from affecting your systems. You can find free anti-malware software online, or you can create your own with the help of an IT specialist.
Education
The same phishing scenario described above could be prevented entirely by educating your employees. Establish thorough security policies and ensure your employees know what they are by posting them in conspicuous locations and the employee handbook. Require that employees undergo rigorous cybersecurity training, complete with tests to guarantee that they understand the preventative steps they need to take to help protect the company.
Additionally, keep them up-to-date on new threats and activities. Don’t make training a one-time deal, either. Having employees review the rules and practices every few months is essential for maintaining awareness.
Cybercrime is always becoming more advanced, so you’ll frequently need to assess your approach and adapt your strategy accordingly. In other words, what works today may not work tomorrow. It’s essential to perform regular audits to evaluate your security and potential holes and threats.
That said, these measures are the first steps, and they’re important ones. They can’t replace a skilled IT team but working in conjunction with these professionals, you’ll be establishing important ways of safeguarding your employees, customers, and the entire business.
